Authorities in Puerto Vallarta are alerting residents and visitors to a new scam involving rental vehicles being fraudulently sold with forged ownership documents.

The scheme came to light on Friday when municipal police located a vehicle linked to an alleged fraud case parked on Francisco Medina Ascencio Avenue near the Whale restaurant in Marina Vallarta. The vehicle had been reported missing by a young man, but employees from a National rental car agency—located across from the airport—also claimed ownership, stating they had lost contact with the original renters several days earlier.

Using a spare key, rental company staff recovered the vehicle parked near an Elektra store on Prisciliano Sánchez Avenue, in the La Aurora area.

A young man at the scene told officers he had been in the process of purchasing the vehicle. The seller presented him with what appeared to be a legitimate invoice showing the vehicle registered in his name. Trusting the documentation, the buyer signed a bill of sale and was preparing to withdraw cash from an ATM when he discovered the vehicle was missing—along with the seller.

Fortunately, the man canceled his withdrawal before handing over any money.

Investigators noted that at the time of the encounter, the vehicle had not yet been reported stolen. The invoice presented followed the format of an official document but bore no signature from a rental company representative, raising concerns about how criminals are gaining access to such convincing forgeries.

Officials say this type of fraud undermines public trust in both rental agencies and private vehicle sales. It also highlights weaknesses in the process for issuing and verifying ownership documents.

Authorities believe this incident is part of a growing trend. Earlier this month, a similar scam involved a rented truck sold with fake license plates and forged documents. In that case, the buyer lost more than 20,000 pesos before discovering the fraud.

Investigators suspect a network of scammers is producing and distributing false invoices that closely resemble legitimate documentation. Officials warn that the rising frequency of these scams could harm Puerto Vallarta’s tourism sector and damage the reputation of local rental agencies.

Authorities are urging the public to verify a vehicle’s legal status through the state Treasury’s registration system before purchasing. They also encourage anyone considering a vehicle sale to check for inconsistencies in documentation and verify ownership with official agencies.

In response, the Jalisco state government is taking several steps to prevent future fraud:

  • Digital Verification: Rental counters will soon require digital validation of ownership and registration documents

  • Monthly Audits: The Transportation Department will conduct monthly audits of rental agency records

  • Faster Reporting: Rental companies must report lost contact with renters within 24 hours

  • Training Programs: Local police will receive training to better identify forged paperwork

  • Public Workshops: A series of fraud prevention workshops is scheduled for next week

Officials hope these measures will prevent the scam from spreading further and restore public confidence in Puerto Vallarta’s vehicle rental market.